Madrid, SPAIN — The Metropolitano Stadium was, on Wednesday, the theater for an eye-catching UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg as Atletico Madrid and Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw. The match was defined by a series of controversial penalty decisions.
Arsenal took the lead in the first half through Viktor Gyökeres, who clinical finish rewarded the Gunners’ early dominance. However, Diego Simeone’s side fought back in typical gritty fashion during the second half, with Julián Álvarez leveling the score from the penalty spot.
Okay News reports that the atmosphere reached a boiling point in the 80th minute when referee Danny Makkelie awarded Arsenal a second penalty for a foul on Eberechi Eze, only to overturn the decision after a lengthy VAR review.
The match was a chess-like game, with Mikel Arteta making a bold triple substitution in the 70th minute—bringing on Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Leandro Trossard—to search for a winner. Despite the fresh legs, Atletico looked the more likely to steal it late on, with Ademola Lookman and Nahuel Molina both coming close in the seven minutes of added time.
The draw leaves the tie perfectly balanced as the action continues at the Emirates Stadium next week. While Arsenal top the Premier League and Atletico sit fourth in La Liga, it is a question of who reaches the final to face either PSG or Bayern Munich.
